How Cruel is Horse Racing?

How Cruel is Horse Racing?

Horse racing has transformed into a norm. It is one of the most popular sports not only in terms of being played but the spectators consider it as a betting sport as well. Horse racing industry has developed in a number of ways.

Horse racing doesn’t only come with benefits. There are drawbacks associated as well and we can consider it as a cruel activity from one perspective. Even though horses are strong and large animals, they can get hurt easily. It is surely entertaining to ride a horse and watch a horse race, but here are some compelling reasons why you may consider it as a cruel activity.

  1. It is burdensome

Horse racing activity is burdensome on the horse themselves. Horse racers and spectators may not realize this but horses cannot tolerate the given weight for a long period of time. This is something serious that must be taken into account. Horses are forced to start racing when they are just 2 years old. This is too young for them and their bones start getting weak. It may have a significant negative impact on their bodies.

  1. They are drugged

This is one of the hidden realities that most of us are not aware of. Since they are forced to run on their maximum speed, they often get hurt easily. Horse owners utilize drugs to recover injuries in the fastest possible manner without realizing the side effects. This sometimes cause their injuries to even get worse. These drugs are not good for their external and internal health.

  1. Lonely business

Horses are animals that are meant to be in herds. They are naturally made like that and there is nothing that can change this inherent nature. Horses are meant to live together, graze together and roam all around. When racing, they spend over 75% of the day in this activity so they don’t get enough time to enjoy their freedom. This is one of the cruelest things an owner can do for his pet.

  1. High death rate

This is another disturbing reality that most owners hide from the world. Horse racing has become a competitive business where horses that are not competent or worth enough are shipped to other countries like Mexico, Canada or Japan. They are then slaughtered for meat even if they have not crossed the age limit. Some are just killed at the age of 5 or 6 even if they have the ability to cross their 30s. This is one of the harsh realities.

Furthermore, horses are frequently injured as a result of strenuous task they engage into while racing other horses. As mentioned above, it is burdensome and they experience injuries that cannot be healed. Such injuries result into deaths. Their bones shatter or break.

The bottom line

Here were some of the reasons why horse racing is one of the cruelest activities individuals can engage into. Before getting into horse racing, think about it twice due to these reasons.